today is the day.. show your courage :)

 "sometimes courage is the little voice that says I will try again tomorrow" - president Monson
What does it mean to be brave or to be courageous? I have been asking myself this question recently. I think there is a belief within the world that being brave requires a certain type of person or character, such as the superheroes we watch in the movies, or that we need to jump off a bridge or out of a plane in order to be classed as being brave or courageous. I agree that carrying out these acts does indeed require a large amount of courage and I would probably not be throwing myself off of a bridge with only an elastic band to save me from death, however I don't agree that those are the only instances in life when we show bravery and courage. I think that we have the opportunity to show courage and bravery in our everyday lives.
Recently someone told me that there is a difference between bravery and insanity, they were right yes there is. Being brave however and having the courage to face your fears does not make you insane it simply makes you strong, stronger than you were before and stronger than the person sitting at home too afraid to try. As members of the church we show small acts of courage every day when we choose to stand up for those things that we believe in. When we stand up and say this is what I believe and this is why I do what I do we are showing courage, we are being brave!!!!
The scriptures are full of stories ( way too many to mention!!) of prophets who were brave and courageous! If they can have the faith to be courageous then why cant we??!!!!
Many people assume being brave means not being afraid but this is so not true, "courage is not the absence of fear but the mastery of it" when we face our fears, choose to be brave, witht he help of the Lord we can overcome them. I know that to be true :)
After being diagnosed with epilepsy I lost all my courage and was afraid of life!! But through faith and the help of my heavenly father I am learning to be brave again and its truly wonderful!!! Life is to be enjoyed not endured!!!
"Twenty years from now you will be more disapointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did so throw away the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour,catch the wind in your sails live, dream , discover" Mark Twain